Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons

11/12/2025

Gov. Jared Polis popped in on the patriotic party at the VCLC at Fitzsimons on Nov. 10, where residents and staff rang in the 250th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps and the eve of Veterans Day.

11/11/2025

On this Veterans Day, we're thrilled to share U.S. Army Veteran Maurice "Mo" Wade's story detailing his ongoing rodeo career and knee injury recovery at the VCLC at Fitzsimons. FOX31 KDVR.com named Mo the November recipient of their "Serving Those Who Serve" Heroes of the Month award series.
Check out the video: youtube.com/watch?v=ZB_6pAmwspw

When Maurice Wade returned from Vietnam, there was something about being around horses that brought calm following the chaos of war. He was this month's Hero...

05/27/2025

This past Memorial Day, residents traveled to historic U.S. memorial sites — without leaving the comfort of Fitzsimons. Thanks to Denver7 for this great story highlighting Fitzsimons' incorporation of virtual reality in veterans' lives.

At Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons, residents are using virtual reality to explore new places and create new memories without leaving the comfort of their chairs.

11/15/2024

𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐳𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐕𝐂𝐋𝐂 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐚 𝐄𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛

This past Veterans Day, members of the Aurora Elks Lodge 1921 bestowed hearing amplifiers and snacks to the residents of the Veterans Community Living Center (VCLC) at Fitzsimons on Nov. 11. Purchased with grant money, Aurora Elks Club’s donation of technologically advanced amplifiers allows veterans to hear when their hearing aides may not provide enough amplification.

06/25/2024

𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐳𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐕𝐂𝐋𝐂 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐓𝐮𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐞 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞

The Colorado Veterans Community Living Centers (VCLCs) have been home to thousands of military heroes for over 136 years. On June 21, 2024, Major General Laura Clellan, the Adjutant General of Colorado, and Michelle Barnes, the executive director of the Colorado Department of Human Services, visited the VCLC at Fitzsimons in Aurora to celebrate one such hero and resident: Col. James "Harvey" Harvey III, one of the last remaining Tuskegee Airmen.

The almost 101-year-old former fighter pilot championed an extraordinary career within the U.S. Air Force, flying thousands of missions prior to his retirement in 1965.

Raised in a small Pennsylvania town, Harvey was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He went on to complete pilot training at Tuskegee, Ala.

In 1949, Harvey, alongside the 332nd Fighter Group from Lockbourne Air Force Base in Ohio, won the U.S. Air Force’s inaugural Fighter Gunnery Meet “Top Gun” at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. However, the 332nd Fighter Group didn’t receive first-place recognition until January 2022.

Harvey went on to become the first Black jet pilot to fly into North Korea during his 126 missions in the Korean War.

He will celebrate his 101st birthday on July 13.

Pictured (left to right): Raenell Simmons, nursing home administrator at the VCLC at Fitzsimons; Michelle Barnes, executive director of the Colorado Department of Human Services; Yolanda Webb, director of the Office of Adult, Aging and Disability Services; Major General Laura Clellan, adjutant general of Colorado; Jesse Cowan, VCLC deputy director; and Angela Knoth, VCLC division social services director.
Bottom center: Col. James "Harvey" Harvey III

05/10/2024

Happy National Nurses Week to the superhero nursing team at Fitzsimons! You help make Fitzsimons the wonderful veterans home that it is, and we cannot thank you enough for the differences you make in countless people's lives every day.

In celebration, staff has enjoyed sweet treats and put on a spirit week with daily themes like "wear your nursing whites," "back in the '80s," and "superhero day."

05/09/2024

Come work with us and help make a difference in the lives of our nation's veterans!

Our Fitzsimons Veterans Community Living Center in Aurora is hiring for various direct care and support positions. Join the dedicated team providing support and care for veterans, veteran spouses and widows, and Gold Star parents.

Current openings: tinyurl.com/WorkAtFitz 📲

05/08/2024

In 2020-2030, CO's 65+ population will grow most in the 75-84 age group, impacting the health care industry, labor force and housing demand as older adults tend to move less, have smaller household sizes and participate in the labor force at lower levels.

05/02/2024

Happy Older Americans Month! Throughout May, we will be sharing various data breaking down Colorado's aging population, as well as supportive resources. is all about being .

May 1 kicks off Colorado's observance of national Older Americans Month. This year's theme is , which recognizes the impact that meaningful relationships and connections have on the health and well-being of our aging population.

03/28/2024

Do you have military memorabilia taking up space in storage? The VCLC at Fitzsimons is looking for loans of unique pieces to add to its display cases and share with the community!

02/16/2024

For week 12 of Faces of Fitzsimons, we're spotlighting Erika Martin, social services director at the Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons.

★★★

𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧
Social services director

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝? Born in Jacksonville, Fla., and raised in Maine.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐳𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲? I started at Fitzsimons in April 2021 as the social services director.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐳𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬? I love working with the nursing home population. Fitzsimons has such a good reputation, so when the social services director position opened up, I didn't hesitate to apply to work here.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐳𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞? As the head of social services, our primary role is to ensure the psychosocial wellbeing of our residents.

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨... Make a difference. Sometimes paperwork and meetings get in the way, but I really enjoy being of service to the veterans.

02/13/2024

There was no need for residents to venture to New Orleans for Mardi Gras — Fitzsimons brought the mask-wearing, bead-throwing, king cake-eating festivities to them!